The buyer's guide to Monterey car week: A look at the auctions and sales surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

August 7, 2012

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Before enthusiasts gaze at the vehicles displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a dizzying array of classics will change hands at a series of auctions and sales being held in and around Monterey, Calif. With the Pebble Beach week events nearly upon us, we've put together a list of the auctions and sales that precede the famous concours.

This is the 12th year of the Russo and Steele auction at Monterey, and organizers claim it will feature more than 250 sports, muscle and performance cars. A quick glance at the lot listings reveals a 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, a 1974 BMW 2002 Tii Touring Alpina and a variety of rods and customs. But that's not all: Attendees will also find a 1961 Nash Metropolitan and other charming--if not exactly performance-oriented--vehicles offered for sale.

One-day admission to the event costs $20, and a three-day ticket goes for $55.

The MarketPlace will be situated outside the Pebble Beach concours, and admission is free to the public. If you see a bike you must have, you'll have the option of buying on the spot or participating in an online auction for the item.

Can't foot the bill for the GT40 camera car used in the filming of Le Mans? Perhaps an original poster from the 1971 Steve McQueen film is in your price range. If so, you might find it at the 10th annual Automobilia Monterey.

Though Automobilia Monterey does host a silent auction, the primary attraction is the wide range of historical items—including vintage posters, scale models, literature, hood ornaments and more—sold by vendors. Event organizers have stated that all of the automotive memorabilia offered at the event will be original, so you need not worry about shifty vendors hawking cheap reproductions.

One-day admission is $15, and a $20 pass covers both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Monterey car week is packed with car shows, vintage racing and car auctions. Autoweek will be there providing streaming photo galleries and live coverage of the Pebble Beach Concours, historic racing at Laguna Seca, the Monterey car auctions and plenty more. Go to autoweek.com/pebblebeach for complete coverage and live updates.

Graham Kozak
- Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they're doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too. Read more »See more by this author»